Overhead turner for logs.



PATENTED DEC. 29, 1903.

P. WINEMAN.

OVERHEAD TURNER. FOR LOGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16 1902 NlTED I Patented December 29, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

OVERHEAD TURNER FOR LOGS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 748,130, dated December 29, 1903.

Application filed July 16. 1902. Serial No. 115,746- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PARKER WINEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Austin, in the county of Oookand State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Overhead Turners for Logs, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention has for its object theproduction of a power device for turning logs when necessaryduring theoperation ofcutting lumber or veneer. It is also used to manipulate logs while on the deck when necessary to roll or move them onto the carriage preparatory to sawing same into lumber, &c., it beingso constructed and located as to be out of the way of the operating machinery in other parts of the mill, yet'at all times ready for manipulation when steam is in the boilers. ll pulleys, frictions, shafting, and belting commonly used for overhead log-turners is in my device entirely obviated, which very materially reduces the cost of construction of such device and maintenance thereof and there is comparatively little to get out of order or wear out. r

In carrying out my invention I provide mechanism which I have illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side view of one of the overhead beams upon which the cylinder is located and an end view of the carriage which carries the log while being cut into lumber, also showing the head-blocks and movable knees upon which the log is fastened by suitable dogs (not shown) to hold the log firm during the operation of sawing into lumber; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the overhead beams and the end of the cylinder, also showing position of the sheave over which the rope plays during the operation of turning the logs.

A represents beams mounted a convenient height above the operating machinery in the sawmill. Secured to these beams by means of bolts B or otherwise is the power-cylinder B, (either air or steam,) receiving pressure from the steam-boilers employed to furnish steam to drive the machinery in the mill or in any other well-known manner if necessity requires the pressure or power to be by steam or air, either of which may be regulated by the valve 0. This cylinder is provided with the usual cushioning arrangement upon the interior (not shown) to prevent, the head from being blown out should any accident occur in the way of the chain, rope, or grappling-hook breaking or giving way. Connected with the valve 0 and extending to the beam 0 is a shaft 0', depending from which is the lever 0 This lever c is operated by the sawyer to open and close the valve 0 to admit or exhaust the motive fluid used in the cylinder B in moving the hook G up or down when necessary to operate itin turning the logs or rolling them on-or ed the deck orcarriage or otherwise changing the position, as desired.

Attached to the piston-rod D is the crosshead D, (provided with proper guides,)- to which is secured a rope which passes over the sheave F, down between the beams A A, under the sheave F, and back up to the beams, between which is a staple or other fastening device securely holding the end of the rope. Depending from the guard F in which the sheave F plays, is a chain G, to which is secured a hook G. A hook or ring 9 is fixed to one of the beams A, which provides a convenient place for hanging the steel hook G out of the way when not in use, yet convenient for the attendant (on the carriage) when it becomes necessary to use it in turning logs.

H is a reciprocating carriage mounted upon wheels H H, which travel upon rails I. These rails I are secured to the timbers I, which are securely fastened to the frame structure-of the mill. A deck J is provided upon which the logs are deposited preparatory to being sawed. v V

K represents the saw-line; but the saw and its connections have not been shown,.as they form no part of my present invention.

L is the knee against which the log rests when it is in the position for sawing. This knee is adjusted by the setter to suit the desired thickness of all lumber sawed. The setting device is not here shown, as it represents no part of my' invention herein described. a

The operation of mydevice is as follows: When the logs are ready to be sawed into lumber, they are rolled onto the carriage H from the deck J and securely fastened to the knees by suitable dogs, (in general use in all mills for such purposes,) when the operation of sawing the log intolumber proceeds. During this operation it becomes necessary to turn the logs at intervals in order to secure the best results. It then calls into service the use of my invention, as the log must be turned to another position, when the process continues until the log is sawed into lumber. The sawyer determines when it is necessary to turn the log, judging, from observations made by inspecting the face of the log as each board is sawed off. The attendant, who rides upon the carriage H with the setter, by a signal from the sawyer takes down the grapplinghook G and places it under the log about midway of its length. The sawyer operates the lever c to move the piston the required distance sufficient to turn the log either on the deck or back against the knees, as may be desired. The attendant then replaces the grappling-hook upon its proper support.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the details of my invention herein set forth without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not desire to be limited to the precise embodiment of my invention herein specifically described.

Myinvention pertains to log-turners located above the log-deck, and it may be used Without the sheave moving up or down between carriage and beams supporting the cylinder, making a direct power thereby. It will also be obvious that the cylinder could be operated as well mounted in a vertical position as in a horizontal position, as I have shown it, and be just as eflfective if the other machinery in the mill would make it preferable so to do; but ordinarily I prefer to use it as I have illustrated.

I claim 1. A log-turner mechanism, comprising an overhead supporting-beam, a power-cylinder carried thereby, a rope or chain connected directly to the piston of said cylinder, a log-engaging hook supported and operated by said rope or chain, and means for controlling the cylinder-valves from the log-deck, substantially as described.

2. A log-turner mechanism, comprising an overhead supporting-beam, a power-cylinder mounted thereon, one end of a rope or chain connected directly to the piston of said cylinder the other end secured to the overhead beam, said rope or chain supporting a loose pulley from which is suspended a grappling device, substantially as described.

PARKER WINEMAN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES I. COBB, H. M. FULLER. 

